This study of the weekly parsha is dedicated
in the loving memory of Mr. James W. Belk, may he rest in peace.

We wish to thank those who shared in the Mitzvah
of JewishPath.org during our first year on the internet... "MAY
HASHEM BLESS YOU FOR SHARING IN OUR VISION AND SHARING IN OUR
EXPENSES!" - Akiva and Staff

The Story On Surviving Disappointment

Many years ago when my parents were in their
seventies, they were traveling by car from Colorado to visit
relatives in Illinois. This trip was a custom for them every
few years. As they became older my brothers and I became increasingly
concerned. We wanted to drive them but they refused. We wanted
to buy them airline tickets but they refused. Eventually our
parents agreed to spread their trip out over a longer period,
drive shorter distances, give us their itinerary, call us at
each stop along the way, etc. This was the best we could do.

Several days into their trip, late in the
afternoon our phone rings. I thought it was Momma calling. Upon
answering the phone the individual on the other end inquires,
"Is this the Belk residence?"

I respond, "Yes!"

The lady identified herself as Edna Brown,
the daughter of my father's brother who lived in Illinois. My
parents were en route to visit them. My brothers and I scarcely
knew Edna or her family. She was twenty years older than us.
She was already married and raising children before our first
introduction. Our families were a great distance apart both in
miles and communication. We rarely spoke by phone. We were not
close.

After the brief introduction Edna inquired,
" Are your parents on their way to visit us?"

Again I responded, "Yes!"

She continued, "Do you know where they're
staying?"

I said, "Yes! Is something wrong?"
She began crying, then sobbing as she spoke, "My father
passed away at two o'clock this morning from a heart attack.
I have been trying for hours to reach you."

This was very bad news! I expressed condolences.
We talked for a little while. My uncle was 82, may he rest in
peace. He was a good man!

After hanging up I called the hotel where
my parents were scheduled to spend the evening. They had not
arrived. The clerk took a message. He would have them phone after
they checked in. Next I phoned my brothers with the tragic news.
They were distraught at the death of our uncle and at how our
father would take this news. Daddy was looking forward to spending
time with his older brother so much. It was all he talked about
for weeks leading up to the trip. Now I would have the unfortunate
responsibility of informing him of his only brother's death.

Soon the phone rang. It was Momma, may she
rest in peace. She was cheerful as always. She spoke of how nice
their trip was and how they were enjoying everything. After a
little while Momma inquired something to the effect, "How's
everyone in Colorado doing?" I responded, "Fine, but
there is some bad news."

Momma responded, "Oooh. What's the matter?"

The serious tone in Momma's voice caught Daddy's
attention. I could hear him say in the background, "Honey,
what's wrong?"

She said, "Be quiet! I'm trying to find
out."

I softly said, "Momma, please sit down.
We have to be strong for Daddy. Edna phoned. Uncle Jim passed
away this morning."
Momma handed the phone to Daddy as she kindly said in the background,
"Honey, it's your brother."

Daddy spoke up, "Son, what's the matter?"

I said, "Dad, please sit down. I have
some bad news."

Daddy said, "O.K., son, I'm sitting down.
What's wrong?"

I said, "Daddy, your brother passed away
this morning. I'm so sorry!" The phone dropped. It fell
to the floor! In the background I heard Daddy crying. His only
words were, "Oooh Oooh! Oooh!" as he wept.

He and Momma were in an out-of-the-way place.
It was not near an airport. They were about three hundred miles
from their destination. They immediately continued on their journey
now to attend the funeral of my father's brother.

Dear readers, we {Kal Yisroel} were on the
edge of the Promised Land when we heard the bad news. We were
preparing to enter our new home when the tragedy struck!

Holy reader, for over a year and four months
we had been talking, making plans, excitedly looking forward
to the time that we would enter Eretz Canaan. Parshas Beha'aloscha
{Numbers 9:1} states that we were in our "second year of
{our} exodus from the land of Egypt..." The Midrash states
that it was on 29 Sivan {July 3rd this year} in the year 2449
that the twelve spies, the highly respected leaders of Kal Yisroel,
were dispatched to Eretz Canaan. They returned on the eve of
the Ninth of Av {August 11th this year} which was the fortieth
day.

After our spies returned and spoke to us,
it appeared that our hopes of living in our own homeland, of
being a people with our own country were dashed. What were we
to do? We were faced with a decision. Were we to believe the
good reports of Caleiv and Hosheiah over the reports of the other
ten very respected leaders {Shamua, Shafat, Yigal, Palti, Gadiel,
Gadi, Amiel, Sesur, Nachbi and
Geu' el}? What were we to do?

We were faced with a very serious dilemma.
The Midrash discusses our dilemma.

First, ten of our leaders felt threatened.
They reasoned, "Under Moshe's leadership we are heads of
the people. As soon as we enter Eretz Yisroel, Yehoshua will
become the leader. He will then appoint a different cabinet of
ministers. Let us therefore detain the people in the wilderness
to ensure that we shall not be demoted from our high positions."
{Zohar}

Holy readers, these men were tzaddikim at
the time of their appointment. They were righteous. Yet in short
order they became corrupt. They changed. Their program got in
the way of what was best for Kal Yisroel. HOW OFTEN HAS THIS
HAPPENED IN OUR HISTORY?? Their institution was more important
than what was best for Kal Yisroel. Their individual goals took
precedence over the interests of Kal Yisroel. They felt threatened.
Their positions of leadership were at stake. These men were unreasonable!
They were selfish! They deliberately misled Kal Yisroel. HOW
MANY TIMES HAS THIS HAPPENED?

Holy reader, each of us needs to make a careful
examination of the programs we support. We need to be very cautious
of those whom we lift high as tzaddikim! We must constantly be
on guard NOT to place our trust in men who are corrupted with
their own selfish programs and interests over the good of all
Jews!

Every leader must be especially careful during
the next nine weeks. It is a time when leadership faces trials
of great selfishness!

Second, we as Kal Yisroel must examine our
own hearts. It was us as a people that expressed distrust in
the Most Holy, G-d forbid! It was us who in the back of our minds
questioned, "Is Eretz Canaan as good as Hashem has described
it to us?" Kal Yisroel questioned, "We have not seen
Eretz Canaan. Is it worth fighting over?" Our doubts and
our distrust of Hashem's word, of Hashem's promises brought us
to a major fall!

Since our own hearts were impure, we set the
stage for our corrupt leaders to deceive us. Our faults are exposed!
The faults of our leaders are exposed!

It is at this time of year every Jew faces
trials that test our belief in what G-d has said. It is at this
time of year that our Yetzer Raw raises up, G-d forbid! We, Kal
Yisroel, are challenged to completely trust, to completely believe
in Hashem! Every Jew both then and now had / has to reassert
their total dependence on Hashem's word because it was at this
time of year that we doubted and distrusted Hashem!

Third, we must learn now to look for the truth
and how to openly receive the truth. If, G-d forbid, we have
prepared our hearts to receive a lie then we like Kal Yisroel
in 2449 will not be able to receive the truth even when it is
presented to us, even when it stares us in the face. Caleiv and
Hosheiah presented the truth then and other men like them will
present the truth now. How will we know what is truth and how
will we know what is a self serving lie?

Simply put, we must examine everything in
the light of what the Torah says. Our Torah is the record of
Hashem's promise to Kal Yisroel! The Torah is the standard by
which every leader's words must be examined!

It is very important to lift up the names
of our leadership and of Kal Yisroel in the Amidah especially
the next nine weeks {until the day after the Ninth of Av}. We
do not want to be making preparations that we will not be able
to keep!

Wishing you the best,

Dr. Akiva G. Belk

Weekly Studies

JewishPath is a sponsor of B'nai Noach
Torah Institute. As a sponsor we are permitted to offer one FREE
E-Mail course on a limited basis per individual from BNTI's
Introduction Courses.We invite you to visit and choose an E - Mail
Intro Course. BNTI offers Intro Courses in Judaism and Spirituality
{7 Noaich Laws}. BNTI Responses are NOT AUTO!!